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It is worth mentioning that after the National Assembly approved the funds allocated for the fourth tranche, the procurement tender for the project was launched in August 2023 and closed in November 2023, during which time several bidders expressed interest. Upon completion, the Gambia Sustainable Energy Project (GSEC) will install up to 1,000 solar systems in schools and about 100 solar systems in hospitals and other health facilities across the country.
Outlining the overall plan, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy, Laming Kamara, recalled that a few years ago, The Gambia signed a financing agreement worth 120 million euros with funding from the European Union and the European Investment Bank (EIB), part of which was used to provide solar connections to schools and hospitals across the country.
He said the process was ongoing and had led to the establishment of the Sustainable Energy Services Company (SESCO), which is responsible for implementing and managing the project.
Enricka Pellacani, Head of the EU Cooperation Delegation to The Gambia, expressed her gratitude for witnessing the event and congratulated the Gambian government on this important achievement; the signing of these two contracts will enable the purchase and installation of solar energy in approximately 1,000 schools and 100 health facilities across the country.
She acknowledged that the plan is important for the EU as it is part of the EU’s strategy to promote and help the government ensure a green Gambia.
EU officials stressed that the project will ensure the continuity of services, especially basic services, and mentioned medical and education services.
She reminded that this support is part of a larger programme of the Gambia Electricity Restoration and Modernisation Project (GERMP), for which the European Union has provided a substantial grant, in addition to a concessional loan from the European Investment Bank (EIB) amounting to €105 million or about D7.7 billion, she added.
To this end, Perakani reiterated the EU’s commitment to supporting the country and its citizens in ensuring an efficient and reliable energy supply, which is an essential component of achieving this vision.
Abdoulie Jallow, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Finance and Chairman of the SESCO Board of Directors, said the day was another important milestone in the successful implementation of the fourth tranche of the Gambia Electricity Restoration and Modernisation Project (GERMP), which is co-financed by the European Union and the European Investment Bank.
PS Jallow recalled that after the financing was secured, the project procurement tender was launched in August 2023 and closed in November 2023, during which a total of 89 bidders from 33 countries expressed interest in the tender.
“After a rigorous evaluation process conducted by experts from Gamworks and Nawec, supported by technical assistance companies Azorom Power Consultant, Ecosys JV in Lebanon and CMC Consortium in China, they were the most responsive in all categories.”
To this end, PS Jallow congratulated the two companies on their achievements, noting that the day’s events marked the beginning of project implementation work, with the country hoping to install the first solar systems at the target locations by November 2024.
On behalf of the Gambian Government, he expressed gratitude to the EU Delegation to The Gambia.
Georges Geha, Chairman and Managing Director of ECOSYS, and Pascal Wang, Regional Director for Africa of Sino SOAR, both expressed their pleasure in being contracted as contractors for this important project and further expressed their determination to work towards the full and timely delivery of the project.
Zhongxiang’s Mr Wang expressed the agency’s determination to deliver high-quality work and acknowledged that the Chinese company specialises in renewable energy with operations in Africa, South Asia and North America.
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